Thick Tomato Soup

• 3 lb (1.25kg) ripe tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon chopped basil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 pint (568 ml) vegetable stock
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 tablespoon of sherry (optional)

Skin and de-seed the tomatoes. Gently simmer tomatoes with sugar and basil in the stock for 15 minutes. Cool.